Framework and Resources
UNESCO Initiatives

UNESCO Institute of Statistics provides rich data and reports for the Sustainable Development Goals. Of particular interest are Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 5 (Gender equality). It includes themes such as Education & Literacy, Science, Technology & Innovation, Culture, Communication & Technology. Data provides the road map for closing the gender gaps and inequities in education by measurement, availability and use of data.


According to UIS data, less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women. Going beyond data, closing the gender gap entails identifying the qualitative factors, barriers and challenges that inhibit women from pursuing careers in STEM domains. UIS is developing indicators to unravel factors that influence women’s decisions to pursue STEM careers and subsequent advancement. The study will be used to develop an evidence based advocacy for policies for gender equality at national and global level.


STEM and Gender Advancement (SAGA)

SAGA was launched in 2015 by UNESCO as a global project to strengthen gender equality in Science, Technology and Innovation and close the gender gap. It was supported till 2018 by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The objective of SAGA was to

  • Develop a methodology and tools to support policy-makers worldwide in setting up, implementing and monitoring gender equality in STI policies;
  • Conduct training workshops in pilot countries to reinforce capacities;
  • Collect STI gender-related policies and instruments and sex-disaggregated data;
  • Advocate on the importance of improving STI gender-related policies and instruments and collecting sex-disaggregated data.

Working Paper 1:
Measuring Gender Equality in Science and Engineering – The SAGA STI Gender Objective List click here

Working Paper 2:
Measuring Gender Equality in Science and Engineering – The SAGA Toolkit click here

Telling SAGA:
Improving measurement and Policies for Gender Equality in STI click here

European Institute for Gender Equality

The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) is an autonomous body of the European Union. It has been established to contribute to and strengthen the promotion of gender equality, including gender mainstreaming in all EU policies and the resulting national policies, and the fight against discrimination based on sex, as well as to raise EU citizens’ awareness of gender equality. Fulfilling its mission, EIGE has successfully established itself as the European knowledge centre on gender equality issues.

World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report

The World Economic Forum, founded in 1971, is an international non-governmental organization based in Switzerland. It is funded by 1000 member global companies/ public entities. Its mission is to improve the state fo the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agenda. It is renowned for its annual meeting held in Davos. The annual Global Gender Gap Report benchmarks countries on their progress towards gender parity using a framework

That has four Key Indicators:

  • Economic Participation and Opportunity
  • Educational Attainment
  • Health and Survival
  • Political Empowerment

The report released in 2022 measures gender disparities in 146 countries and provides their gender profile. According to its estimates, it will take 132 years to close the global gender gap.

World Bank

The World Bank works on every major issue that impacts development with a mission that everyone benefits from economic growth. It recognizes that no country, community or economy can achieve its potential or meet the challenges of 21st century without full and equal participation of women and me, girls and boys. Its research reports provide gender data and insights into gender disparity in various sectors with special focus on education, entrepreneurship, health, assets, participation of women in the workforce and their contribution and share of the economy. The gender group looks at how to accelerate gender equality and development for empowerment of all. The World Bank's Gender Data Portal provides gender statistics along with data visualizations and analysis to inform policy.

GATI (Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions) - Framework Development for Advancing Gender Equity in Science, Technology and Higher Education in India
Sanctioned to GATI PI based at NAAC via Government of India, Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology, Order dated 30 August 2020